Published 10:00 pm, Friday, December 16, 2005

But the appointment of the energetic former executive director of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network is not sitting well with R. Christopher Klemm, who says he was pushed out of the executive director's role just 19 months into a three-year contract. Klemm -- who is discussing options with an attorney -- says that the move violates his employment agreement with the UW.

"I was surprised and very disappointed," said Klemm, who moved to Seattle from Philadelphia to take the position. "I had been looking to build a top 10 center."

Klemm said he was presented with a separation agreement on Dec. 8, but refused to sign it. For the past 10 days, Klemm said, he has been on leave from the UW.

Suresh Kotha, faculty director of the CIE, said he did not know the circumstances behind Klemm's departure.

"I am not sure what happened," said Kotha. "I think he resigned."

State Assistant Attorney General Shelley Kostrinsky, who is handling the matter for the UW, declined to elaborate on Klemm's status.

"All I can say at this point is that it is a personnel matter and we would rather not discuss it in the press," Kostrinsky said.

The CIE draws together entrepreneurial-minded faculty and students from numerous departments. Best known for its annual business plan competition, the organization is designed to teach entrepreneurs and spark new ideas that could turn into real businesses.

Klemm said he was perplexed by Jiambalvo's decision, given that he helped boost the ranking of the UW's entrepreneurship program and planted seeds of change.

"It takes a long time," said Klemm. "You have to build a lot below ground before it shows up above ground." Klemm said he was told by Jiambalvo that members of the CIE's advisory board wanted a new leader.

But several members of the 22-person advisory board -- primarily consisting of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and attorneys -- said they were unaware of a plot against Klemm.

Seattle venture capitalist Artie Buerk, a long-time supporter of the UW and a member of the CIE's advisory board, said he did not know of anyone pressuring Jiambalvo to remove Klemm.

"I can't tell you that any member of the board was unhappy with him," said Buerk.

Voyager Capital's Bill McAleer, who also sits on the CIE advisory board, said that Bourassa-Shaw has "very good connections in the entrepreneurial community."

"I think she is going to be a very good choice to take (CIE) to another level," he said.

UW faculty also applauded Bourassa-Shaw's appointment. Emer Dooley, who teaches classes at the CIE, said the organization will benefit with Bourassa-Shaw at the helm.

"Connie is phenomenal," said Dooley, who also sits on the board of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network. "It is an idea whose time has come.... She has a big picture of what we can do. There is no reason it shouldn't be a great program."

As the first executive director of the NWEN, Bourassa-Shaw nearly doubled membership while rolling out a slew of new educational and networking events. She said the decision to leave NWEN for the UW was a "tough, tough, tough choice."

"I love the UW and this is sort of going home in a way," she said. "And this is going back to a dean who I have great confidence in and who is determined to really grow the university's profile when it comes to entrepreneurship."

Bourassa-Shaw hopes to build a national reputation in entrepreneurial education and research and expand entrepreneurial programs to students, faculty and alumni.

She also hopes to strengthen the bond between NWEN and CIE so the two organizations can meet the needs of entrepreneurs at the university and in the state.

For example, Bourassa-Shaw sees opportunities for Seattle entrepreneurs to teach classes at the UW or for student entrepreneurs to present business plans at NWEN's annual Early Stage Investment Forum.

"Those two things should be very closely allied," she said.

"I am interested in real world experiences. NWEN has them, the business school can use them as well, and together I think there is a huge opportunity to create something really strong."